Sammy says "Sing it girls, 'This land is my land, this land is your land ...' "
LOGISTICS -
Put-in: Crater Park Access in Elkin, NC
Campsite 1: Yadkin Shore Access, near US 601 bridge over the Yadkin River
Campsite 2: Sandbar at the confluence of Ararat and Yadkin Rivers
Take-out: Donnaha Park Access, at NC 67 bridge over the Yadkin River
Adventurers: Gene, Val, Doc, Vaughn, Andrew, Kim, Karen, Don
GLUTTONY -
Pre-trip: poptarts, danishes, and mimosas at COP's for the eastern faction
Red pills, courtesy of Michele, to help us leave the Matrix behind
Pre-launch Lunch #1: (at Crater Park) tortilla wraps, blueberry pie
Snacks: Yes and often
Dinner #1: green salad, grilled salmon and shrimp, Garlic mango
pineapple salsa, crabcakes, wild rice, s'mores
Breakfast #1: cheesy egg & peppers & onions fajita wraps with salsa,
lil' smokey sausages, OJ, AJ, Purple Wave
Lunch # 2: tortilla wraps with ham, hummus, bell peppers, salad,
cheese, brownies
Dinner #2: various snack hors-devours, hotdogs, Bubba burgers, potato
salads, coleslaw, chili, baked beans, s'mores
Breakfast #2: pancakes with red strawberries, blueberries, white
whipped cream, syrup, canadian bacon, OJ, AJ
Lunch #3: tortilla wraps, Moroccan hummus, black bean and olive
hummus, peppers, salad, cheese, ham, assorted snack items
PICTURES -
Karen's pix
Don's pix
Andrew's pix
Val's pix
Coming soon ...
Doc's pix
TRIP REVIEW
The water level this time was between 6 inches and a foot higher than normal. We floated over a number of the rocks and ledges that sometimes give us trouble. Some of the boats even made it through the Shoals without having to step out of the boat. But not all. The quicker flow also let us snack barge a lot without getting too far behind.
The higher water, combined with higher water earlier this year, resulted in much of the beach being eroded away at the mouth of the Ararat River. However, there was enough for us to pitch tents on the high side and still have plenty of semi-level room for the dinner area.
The hand pump well at Yadkin Shore was working just fine. So was the port-a-john, after we stood it back up. The local teenagers tipped it over just as we pulled into the steps at the site. When they saw us arrive, the group of kids stopped their necking, etc and split quickly. A number of vehicles visited the parking lot that evening and night, including some at 2:30 AM and 5 AM, but they all left shortly after discovering we were there. This must be a hot spot in the local party scene.
There was group of people car-camped across the mouth of the Ararat River from us on the sand beach, but they packed up and left shortly after returning (from where?) at 7 PM and seeing us camped out. Not sure why they left. If they were upset, they never voiced it loud enough for us to hear.
The water was cool enough that we didn't swim too often. One boat lost a discussion with a log at the Rockford bridge and a number of snacks had to be rescued from their swim. Another boat decided to toss out it's occupants during the height of a water battle. Might have had something to do with the standing up of one of the not-quite-as-balanced-as-she-thought-she-was occupants.
We saw perhaps a dozen people out in fishing boats, half that many fishing from the banks, and one in the river, but we never saw any other canoeists. It still amazes us that on a holiday weekend we're the only ones on the Yadkin River.
RELATED INFO
Yadkin River Trail Association webpage
A 1920's trip report: "A
Voyage Down the Yadkin-Great Peedee River, 1928"
The author adds a bit of wit to his writing, which makes for
entertaining reading. If you've ever paddled this section of the Yadkin, you will be able to
confirm that he has too!
May the Adventure continue !!!!!
(posted 6/1/05)
